Introduction to PlanMaryland by Governor O'Malley

Wherever it is that you live, work or play in Maryland, I'm sure that you share my vision for prosperous and vibrant communities for our families and for the preservation of our precious natural and historic resources.

Challenges and Questions

Effective and efficient management of land-use was a prescient vision in the 1930s when Maryland created the first planning commission in the country. It swelled into a pressing need by the 1970s, when the state legislature created the authority to develop a statewide development plan. And it has reached a critical point now that the pace of sprawl has continued its march despite curative efforts in recent decades. A commitment to fulfill the intent of the legislature 40 years ago to develop a statewide plan for growth, PlanMaryland, will be that plan.

Maryland created a framework a decade ago to steer development toward priority funding areas to try to ensure that new construction occurred near existing services and infrastructure. Scattered development far beyond areas with existing infrastructure wasn’t abated, however, partly due to an unusually strong housing market. The programs put in place also proved insufficient to tame the sweep of development.